After studying at the École de Danse de l'Opéra de Paris and at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, Boris Charmatz was engaged by Régine Chopinot to dance Ana (1990) and Saint-Georges (1991). In 1992, he was asked by Odile Duboc to join her company Contrejour to dance 7 jours/7 villes (1992), Projet de la Matière (1993) and Trois Boléros (1996). He also took part in the premier of K de E, choreographed by Olivia Grandville and Xavier Marchand (1993).

He founded Association Edna, with Dimitri Chamblas in 1992. Together they choreographed and danced the duet "A bras le corps" (1993), then "Les Disparates" (1994), a piece for one dancer and a sculpture by Toni Grand. Boris Charmatz next presented "Aatt enen tionon" (1996), a vertical choreography for three dancers, then in 1997 "herses (une lente introduction)", quartet for five dancers and a cellist, to music by Helmut Lachenmann. In 1999 he choreographed "Con forts fleuve", a piece for seven dancers and two extras, to texts by John Giorno and music by Otomo Yoshihide. The piece, "heâtre - élévision", a pseudo-show to be watched by one spectator at a time, was created in 2002.
With Edna he is co-ordinating a series of works which evolve as the pressures of the moment allow. He regularly takes part in improvisational events and continues to pursue his performing career.

From 2002, and for a period of three years, he was researcher and creator in residence at the Centre National de la Danse in Pantin. As part of this he was developing the "Bocal" project, a nomadic and provisional school (or perhaps more a research group, driven by an idea of a school for exploring themes in depth) which brought together 15 students from different backgrounds from July 2003 to July 2004.
He has co-written a book with Isabelle Launay: "Entretenir/à propos d'une danse contemporaine" (published jointly by the Centre National de la Danse and Les Presses du Réel).
Currently Boris Charmatz is the director at Musée de la danse in Rennes.